Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 2

“BOSS,” Julian laid the folder on the table with care, as if the contents carried weight beyond paper. The study room was quiet. He pushed the folder forward. “Ito na ang pinapahanap mo sa akin. Everything you need was inside the folder.”

Tinignan lamang ni Alaric ang folder at hindi niya ito agad hinawakan. Tumango siya. Julian’s work was delayed this time, but it doesn’t matter. He trusted Julian’s work. Information was power, but it was also a responsibility.

Itinigil niya ang pagbabasa ng report mula sa Volkov Group. Ibinaba niya rin ang hawak na sign pen saka kinuha ang folder at binuklat.

The first page was clean and minimal. REESE SINCLAIR. There was no photograph, no biometric scan, and just text.

“She really never shows her face in public,” he said, flipping through the pages. Financial record followed—shell companies layered over shell companies, offshore accounts, moving in patterns designed to evade notice. The kind of structure that didn’t belong to amateurs.

Kapagkuwan napatigil si Ashriel sa paglipat ng pahina nang mabasa niya ang tungkol sa Sinclair Tech. This is the core of the Sinclair Family. This is their real business—designing weapons and advanced technologies and somehow, they managed to become investors and shareholders of different companies abroad.

“So, no one knows what she looks like, Boss. No verified image. No public appearances. Even board meetings, it was remote or behind screens. She had been abroad all this time. And I found out that she was coming home this time. Rumors are circulating, but,” Julian shrugged. “Those are only rumors.”

Napatigil si Alaric nang makita niya ang family background ni Reese Sinclair. Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya. Since the heir—the eldest son of the Sinclair Family died five years ago, Reese Sinclair became the heir, but everything about her was mysterious and she never showed in public.

“How did her parents die?” Alaric asked. “It’s not included here.”

“Gas poisoning. They were trapped in a warehouse. Probably that was eight years ago.”

Napatango si Alaric. “She runs company worth billions,” he said. “Moves weapons, tech, logistics. And yet she’s a ghost.”

“That’s the point,” Julian replied. “Sinclair Industries was one of the richest in Asia because of their system and the government even support them.” He cleared his throat. “Their wealth can rival your empire, Boss.”

Alaric only snorted and flipped to the engagement agreement clipped neatly at the back of the folder. “I heard that she cleaned the Sinclair Industries after she become the new President,” he said.

Tumango si Julian. “Totoo ‘yon, Boss. But many people were looking for her. They want her to design weapons and technology where they could gain profit.”

“No wonder she became a ghost,” Alaric said.

Napatitig si Alaric sa engagement agreement.

Umupo si Julian sa upuan na nasa harapan ng lamesa ng Boss niya. “Boss, nagtataka lang ako. Why would your family arrange a marriage between you two?”

“Alliance,” Alaric answered and looked at Julian. “My family came from generations of mercenaries. We’ve been fighting battles after battles. We have a private army. And this Sinclair Family, they lacked what we have. And we lacked what they have.”

Napatango si Julian. “So, you marry her to protect her.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Alaric. “You can say that. And in return, I can be part of the Sinclair System.”

Julian’s eyes widened in surprise. “That was a priceless dowry.”

Tumango si Alaric. “Indeed. So, I have to marry her.”

“But what if she won’t honor the engagement, Boss?”

“She will.”

But Julian knew his Boss very well. “Boss, you want to investigate the AEGIS-535 that killed your parents, right? That’s why you want to marry the Sinclair heir.”

The corner of Alaric’s lips twitched. “You’re smart. Yes, that’s my plan. And if they really are responsible by the released of that AEGIS-535, what would you do?”

“I will kill the Sinclair heir myself,” Alaric declared as his hand fisted.

Lahat kasi ng data tungkol sa AEGIS ay nabura. Hindi niya ma-trace kung sino ang gumawa ng AEGIS-535 na ‘yon. No matter how he digs, he found out nothing, as if the AEGIS Project was like a ghost that didn’t exist at all. Pero hindi siya naniniwala. Someone manipulated everything, that’s why no one can find out where the AEGIS-535 came from.

No one knows who invented the AEGIS-535, but it was a powerful weapon—a multi-layered weapons ecosystem combining drone swarms, smart missiles, AI targeting, EMP and cyber warfare. Basta na lamang itong lumabas sa isang operasyon ng kalaban nilang grupo limang taon na ang nakakaraan pero agad ding nawala ang lahat ng data nito bago pa man niya makuha. He just wants to trace who made that AEGIS-535. Maliban kasi sa kaniyang mga magulang, may mga inosente pang nadamay. Though he doesn’t care about those lives, but he wanted to see who was the inventor of that AEGIS-535 and make him pay.

Alaric looked at Julian when he remembered something. “And about the woman who saved me.”

Julian straightened. “Boss, pasensiya na pero wala talaga akong mahanap tungkol sa kaniya. As if she didn’t exist. I already checked the cctv footage many times, but there was nothing.”

Napakuyom ang kamay ni Alaric. “Are you sure?”

“Boss, I checked it many times. Wala talaga. Hindi ko siya mahanap.” He leaned forward. “Boss, hindi mo ba talaga maalala ang mukha niya?”

“It was dark that time. I can’t see her face. But I remember when the light caught her, she was wearing a chain bracelet, intricate with gemstones.” Napahawak si Alaric sa baba.

Pasimpleng nahilot ni Julian ang sentido. He thought it was a useful information, but his Boss’ savior was three years ago. Malamang hindi na nito suot ang bracelet na ‘yon.

“Kung hindi dahil sa kaniya, baka wala na ako,” sabi ni Alaric. He was being chased by his enemies three years ago and a girl saved him. She called an ambulance, but when the ambulance arrived, she was not by his side. As he looked at the dark side of the road, there she was, standing there with a cap covering her face. At bago siya mawalan ng malay, nakita niyng nasinagan ito ng ilaw at nakita niya ang suot nitong bracelet. That was the only clue he had.

“Should I continue looking for her, Boss?” tanong ni Julian.

“Of course.”

Julian let out a small sigh and nodded.

“But let’s settle this engagement first,” Alaric said.

Gagawin niya ang lahat upang maipaghiganti niya ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang magulang. Hindi siya matatahimik hangga’t hindi siya makapaghiganti.